India to appeal against Devi’s suspension

NEW DELHI (AP) – The president of Boxing India wants AIBA to revoke a provisional suspension on female boxer L Sarita Devi for protesting at the Asian Games.

Devi protested against the decision in the 60kg bout by refusing to bend down to let the medal be placed over her neck. She then took the medal and slipped it onto the neck of Park Ji-na, who had been declared the winner of the semifinal bout. The South Korean boxer tried to give it back, then left it on the podium.

“It was purely an emotional reaction and not pre-planned,” Sandeep Jajodia said Monday after a meeting with sports ministry and Indian Olympic Association officials to discuss the course of action.

“We don’t deny that it was disrespectful toward the code of conduct for athletes but she tendered an unconditional apology.”

The protest prompted AIBA technical delegate David Francis to say it “looked like a well-planned scenario by her and her team.”

AIBA announced the suspension last week and asked Boxing India for a detailed reply by Monday.